ST. MARY’S KNANAYA CATHOLIC FORANE PARISH, SAN JOSE

324 Gloria Ave, San Jose, CA 95127, USA.

www.sanjoseknanayachurch.com

Pastor / Vicar: Fr. Jemy Puthuseril
3450 E. Hills Dr.,
San Jose, CA 95127
1-630-400-7162
jemy15@hotmail.it

MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday: English Mass at 9:30 A.M. and Malayalam Mass at 11:00 A.M.
Saturday: Holy Mass at 9:30 A.M.
Monday – Friday: 7:00 P.M.

MINISTRY
Holy Mass every fourth Saturday at 7:00 P.M. at
St. Dominic Catholic Church,
2390 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94115.

NOVENAS
Our Lady of Perpetual Help on every Saturdays
St. Anthony’s on every Tuesday

ADORATION
Monday – Friday 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Saturdays: 8:30 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.

Every First Friday of the month at 7:00 P.M.

KOODARA YOGAMS – 8

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION SCHOOL
DRE: Vins Pulickal 408-206-4198
vinschacko@gmail.com

Students: 118
Teachers: 22

SANCTUARY OF THE CHURCH

HISTORY

With the permission of the San Jose Bishop Patrick J. McGrath, Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry and Mar Mathew Moolakkatt sent Fr. Dominic Joseph Madathilkalathil from Kottayam diocese to start a Knanaya Mission in San Jose. Fr. Dominic Joseph arrived in San Jose on July 1, 2000 as the director of the mission and served the diocese of San Jose as Parochial Vicar at St. Frances Cabrini Church.

With the establishment of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, the mission became a part of this new diocese. Mar Jacob Angadiath appointed Fr. John Chennakuzhiyil as the mission director from September 27, 2008. Rev. Msgr. Jacob Vellian became the director on October 11, 2009. When he retired from ministry on May 1, 2010, Fr. Stany Edathiparambil was appointed as the mission director on July 1, 2010.

Under the leadership of the mission director Fr. Stany Edathiparambil, the mission bought a church at 324 Gloria Ave, San Jose, CA 95127. His Excellency Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated this church on March 24, 2012 in the presence of Bishop Mar Joseph Pandarasseril, the Auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Kottayam. Bishop Angadiath elevated the mission as a parish and appointed Rev. Fr. Stany Edathiparambil as its first pastor on the same day. Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath was the second pastor from May 6, 2013. Fr. Pathrose Champakkara was appointed as the pastor from October 18, 2014 to June 26, 2016. Fr. Mathew Meledath served as pastor from June 28, 2016 to April 30, 2018. Fr. Saji Pinarkayil took charge as pastor from May 1, 2018.

San Jose St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Parish was declared as a Forane Parish of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago on February 18, 2015 by Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath. Vicar General Fr. Thomas Mulavanal inaugurated the forane on April 19, 2015 at St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church San Jose.

Pre-Marriage course of the Knanaya Region was held from June 28-30, 2019 in San Jose. Mar Joy Alappatt replaced Fr. Saji Pinrakayil with Fr. Jemy Puthusseril with effect from September 15, 2023.

The parish has 187 Knanaya Catholic Families in Northern California.

TIMELINE

2000 July 1: Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathil started serving the mission.

2008 September 27: Fr. John Chennakuzhiyil took charge as mission director.

2009 October 11: Msgr. Dr. Jacob Vellian became the director.

2010 July 1: Fr. Stany Edathiparambil was appointed as the mission director.

2012: The mission bought a church at 324 Gloria Ave, San Jose, CA 95127.

2012 March 24: Mar Jacob Angadiath consecrated the church along with Mar Joseph Pandarasseril. Mar Angadiath elevated the mission as a parish with Fr. Stany Edathiparambil as its pastor.

2013 May 6: Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath took charge as the pastor.

2014 October 18: Fr. Pathrose Champakkara was appointed as the pastor.

2015 February 18: The parish was elevated as a forane by Mar Jacob Angadiath.

2015 April 19: Inauguration of the forane by Vicar General Fr. Thomas Mulavanal.

2016 June 28: Fr. Mathew Meledath became the pastor.

2018 May 1: Fr. Saji Pinarkayil took charge as the pastor.

2019 June 28 – 30: The parish hosted Regional pre-marriage course

2020: Church bought a cemetery at Calvary, Alumrock, CA

2021: Started Cherupushpa Mission League Unit.

2021: Bought Catechism classrooms.

2022 March 27: Celebration of the tenth anniversary of the parish. Vicar General Fr. Thomas Mulavanal inaugurated the celebration.

2022 November 19: Conclusion of tenth anniversary celebration by Bishop Oscar Cantu and Mar Joseph Pandarasseril.

2023: Solar Project completed.

2023 September 15: Fr. Jemy Puthusseril took charge as the vicar.

DIRECTORS / PASTORS

Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathli (2000 July 1 – 2008 September 27)

Fr. John Chennakuzhuy (2008 September 27 – 2009 October 11)

Fr. Jacob Vellian (2009 October 11 – 2010 July 1)

Fr. Stani Edathiparambil (2010 July 1- 2013 May 6)

Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath (2013 May 6 – 2014 October 18)

Fr. Pathrose Champakkara (2014 October 18 – 2016 June 28)

Fr. Mathew Meledath (2016 June 28 – 2018 May 1)

Fr. Saji Pinarkayil (2018 May 1 – 2023 September 14)

Fr. Jemy Puthusseril (2023 September 15 – )

PAST AND PRESENT DIRECTORS AND PASTORS

               

Fr. Dominic Madathilkalathli (First Mission Director), Fr. John Chennakuzhuy (Former Director), Fr. Jacob Vellian (Former Director), Fr. Stani Edathiparambil (First Pastor), Fr. Jose Illikunnumpurath (Former Pastor), Fr. Pathrose Champakkara (Former Pastor), Fr. Mathew Meledath (Former Pastor), Fr. Saji Pinarkayil (Former Pastor), Fr. Jemy Puthusseril (Present Pastor).